18 November 2025 – As part of the modernisation efforts, SARS is automating the AfCFTA agreement for SARS Customs & Excise clients. SARS published the necessary legal instruments on 26 January 2024, and trade began on 31 January 2024 for the approved published tariff offers to and from countries such as Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tunisia. Trading with SADC countries takes place under the SADC Trade Protocol. Traders must be registered with SARS as exporters or producers before being allowed to trade under AfCFTA, and this registration process previously required manual submission.
From 1 November 2025, traders can submit applications for the following client types under the AfCFTA agreement through the RLA system:
- Exporter in terms of AfCFTA
- Approved Exporter in terms of AfCFTA
- Producer in terms of AfCFTA
For more information, see the letter to Trade and the presentation.
